“The Regional Airline Association’s (RAA) member airlines operate 45 percent of our nation’s daily flights, and yet have no voice in the governance or operation of the new ATC corporation proposed in the AIRR Act,” said RAA President Faye Malarkey Black. “We are particularly concerned that the bill leaves questions about charges and fees unanswered, with variables like the role of weight, distance, or other factors important to regional airlines unclear.”
During today’s House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing on the AIRR Act, the number of seats allocated to major airlines in the governance board associated with the proposed ATC Corporation was debated. During the discussion, the number of daily commercial aviation departures in the U.S. - around 27,000 – was cited as a justification for major airlines maintaining four seats on the board without acknowledging that almost half of those 27,000 daily departures are operated by regional carriers who would have no representation in the new entity formed by the Act.
The RAA remains committed to a safe, efficient, and accountable ATC system and believes all stakeholders must have a voice in this process, especially those responsible for such a large percentage of the nation’s commercial flying.
You can read the RAA’s full statement in opposition of the AIRR Act on their website.
About RAA
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) provides a unified voice of advocacy for North American regional airlines aimed at promoting a safe, reliable, and robust regional airline industry. The RAA serves as an important support network connecting regional airlines, industry business partners, and government regulators in bolstering the industry; as well as promoting regional airline interests in a changing business and policy environment. With more than 11,200 regional airline flights every day, regional airlines operate 45 percent of the nation's commercial schedule.
